Wire-spooling apparatus



Sept. 29, 1953 a. H. DAVIS WIRE-SPOOLING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 15, 1951 jay whim M m Sept. 29, 1953 B. H. DAVIS WIRE-SPOOLING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 13, 1951 Sept. 29, 1953 B. H. DAVIS 2,653,773

WIRE-SPOOLING APPARATUS Filed July 15, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 mnmlx Patented Sept. 29, 1953 WIRE- SPOOLING APPARATUS Benjamin H. Davis, Noank, Conn., assignor to The Standard Machinery Company, Mystic, Oonn., a corporation of Connecticut Application July 13, 1951, Serial No. 236,638

9 Claims.

This invention relates generally to wire-spooling apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for power-winding a continuous supply-wire in orderly-arranged superposed layers on a spool.

It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus of this type with a spool-carrier which is movable into a winding position in which the spool is in driving relation with a continuous power-drive, and also into an idle position in which the spool is disconnected from the power-drive and the carrier is readily and safely accessible for the replacement of a full spool with an empty spool.

It is another object of the present invention to provide apparatus of this type with alternately operative twin spool-carriers which are individually movable into winding and idle positions and in driving relation with the same power-drive in their respective winding positions, so that a single wire-guide may be used for both spools by simply shifting the wire-guide into wire-guiding relation with the spool on either carrier in its winding position, and a full spool may readily be replaced with an empty Spool on either carrier in its idle position at a safe distance from the other carrier in its winding position,

A further object of the present invention is to provide a spool-carrier of the aforementioned type with a shaft which serves as a mandrel for replaceable spools and carries a driven element that is moved by the carrier into and from frictional driving engagement with a continuous driver, so that the mandrel is automatically connected with and disconnected from the driver without any special. clutch provisions and on mere movement of the carrier into and from its winding position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the aforementioned continuous driver in the form of a V-type belt, or preferably several. of these belts which pass over grooved pulleys that are normally yieldingly urged apart and of which at least one pulley is power-driven, and the driven element on the spool-carrying mandrel of the carrier is a grooved pulley which on movement of the carrier into its winding position will engage the adjacent runs of the belts to establish therewith a positive driving connection which will assuredly overcome even exceptional drag on. the drum being wound with wire.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide apparatus of this type with a wireguide which repeatedly traverses a drum on the carrier widthwise to deposit wire thereon in orderly arranged superposed layers, and which is impelled by a periodically reversing rotary feed-spindle that is driven in synchronism with the aforementioned driving belts so that, by virtue of the direct driving connection of these belts with the pulley on the carrier rather than with the spool thereon, and despite any possible variation in the drive of the spool by virtue of the increasing diameter of the wound wire thereon,

the wire turns are deposited in each layer on the spool in uniform engagement with each other throughout the winding of the spool with wire.

It is another object of the present invention to provide in apparatus of the aforementioned twin-carrier type a single wire-guide which is carried by, and guided for recip-rocable spooltraversing movement on, a. transfer unit that is, in turn, guided for movement into wire-guiding relation with the spool on either carrier on a shaft which is driven in synchronism with the aforementioned driver, while the aforementioned feed-spindle is a part of the transfer unit moving therewith and is splined to said shaft whereby the transfer-unit and wire guide may be shifted together into operative alignment with the spool on either carrier without interrupting the driving connection between the feed-spindle and shaft at any time.

A further object of the present invention is to provide in the drive of the aforementioned feedspindle for the wire-guide a reversing mechanism in the structurally simple form of a driven belt, a pair of gear-connected driving pulleys of which one pulley is directly coupled with the feed-spindle, and belt-deflectors which are automatically shifted in unison at the ends of successive spooltraverses of the wire-guide for deflecting the opposite runs of the driven belt into alternate driving engagement with the driving pulleys, respectively, thereby to drive the feed spindle in opposite directions, respectively.

Another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus of the aforementioned movable spool-carrier type with a brake which will automatically stop free-wheeling of the drumcarrying mandrel on the carrier on movement of the latter from its winding position, and which will automatically release the mandrel for rotation on movement of the carrier into its winding position.

It is a further object of the present invention to form the pulley-carrying shaft on the aforementioned movable carrier and the spool-carrying mandrel as separate parts of which the shaft with its pulley is permanently mounted in 3 the carrier and the mandrel is removably carried by the shaft for ready replacement with another mandrel that will accommodate a spool of a different size.

Other objects and advantages will appear to those skilled in the art from the following, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out the present invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. 1 is a front-elevational View of wire-spooling apparatus embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same apparatus as viewed in the direction of the arrow 2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of a modified connection between a spool-carrier and its shifter element;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a section through one of the spoolcarriers of the apparatus, showing automatic brake-mechanism for the spool on the carrier;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic illustration of certain control mechanism of the instant apparatus; and

Fig. 8 shows a modified mounting for replaceable mandrels on either spool-carrier of the instant apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 3 thereof, the reference numeral l0 generally designates a wire-spooling apparatus which comprises a main frame l2 on which are mounted the various operating devices and mechanisms of the apparatus. The main frame l2 which may be in the form of a casting,

provides in this instance a base l4, opposite upright side walls 16 and I8 and a preferably integral brace 20 which extends between the side walls l6 and I8 and may be generally U-shaped in cross-section (Figs. 1 and 2). The various operating devices and mechanisms on the mainframe l2 are: spool-carriers A (Figs. 1, 2 and 3); drives B for the spool-carriers A (Figs. 1, 2 and 3); wire-guiding mechanism C (Figs. 1

and 3); operating and control means D for wire-guiding mechanism C (Figs. 1, 2 and 3); and shifting device E for wire-guiding mechanism C.

Spool-carriers A Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 3, there is shown a shaft 22 which is firmly mounted with its ends in the opposite side walls I6 and I8, respectively, of the main frame l2. Mounted for free turning movement on the shaft 22 are spaced rockers 24 and 26 which constitute the swinging frames of the respective spool carriers A so that the latter are, in the present instance, swingable to and from their respective winding positions to be described. Since the spool-carriers A are identical in most essential respects, a detailed description of one of these spool carriers, namely carrier A, is sufficient. Thus, the rocker 26 of the spool-carrier A, which is held against axial movement on the shaft 22 between pinned collars 28 and 30 thereon, is provided in its upper spaced ends 32 and 34 with suitable journal bearings for a shaft 36 of which an extension 38 projects beyond the rocker end 32 to serve as a mandrel for a replaceable spool 40. The mandrel shaft may in any suitable manner be held against axial movement relative to the rocker 26, as by an integral intermediate collar 42 and a fixed end collar 44, for instance. The mandrel 38 carries at its outer end a spool-retainer 46 which may be of the conventional type having a floating pivot connection #8 with the adjacent end of the mandrel 38 so as to be shiftable from the spool-locking position shown in Fig. 1 into a spool-releasing position in which it extends axially of the mandrel 38 and permits the replacement of a spool 40 on the mandrel. The other spool-carrier differs from the carrier A only by having its mandrel 38' extend from the opposite side thereof so that both mandrels 38 and 38' extend between the spool-carriers.

Drives B for the spool-carriers A Referring now to Figs. 1 to 3, the drives B are, in the present instance, belt-type drives each of which comprises preferably several belts 50, passing over spaced upper and lower pulleys 52 and 54, respectively. The upper pulleys 52 are mounted in spaced relation on a main-drive shaft 56 which is journalled in spaced bearing brackets 58 and G0 on preferably integral web-portions 62 and 64, respectively, on the brace 20 of the main frame I2 of the apparatus. The lower pulleys 54 are carried by spaced upright standards 66, respectively, on the base [4 of the main frame I2. More particularly, each lower pulley 54 is journalled in a bearing block 68 (Fig. 2) which is guided for movement toward and away from the adjacent upper pulley 52 in ways 10 in the respective standard 68. Each bearing block 68 is urged away from the adjacent upper pulley 52 by a compression-type spring 12 which surrounds an adjustable threaded pin 14 on a cross-member E6 on top of the respective standard 66, and backs against an adjustment nut 18 on the pin 14. The belts 53 of the drives B are thus tensioned by the springs '12, while the pins (I serve as adjustable stops to limit the retraction of the bearing blocks 68.

Mounted on the mandrel-shaft 36 of each spool-carrier A is a pulley which is in driving engagement with the belts 50 of the adjacent drive B when the spool-carrier is in its winding position in which the same leans toward the adjacent belt-drive B in the fashion indicated by the spool-carrier A in Fig. 2. Conversely, the pulley 80 on each spool-carrier A is out of driving engagement with the adjacent belt-drive B when said carrier is in its idle position in which the same leans away from the adjacent belt drive in the fashion indicated by the spoolcarrier A" in Fig. 2.

The belts 50 of each drive B are, in the present instance, of the double-V type so as to have maximum traction not only on the respective pulleys 52 and 54 over which they pass, but also on the pulley 80 on the adjacent spool-carrier A when the latter is in its winding position.

Each of the spool-carriers A is, for swinging movement into its winding and idle positions, pivotally connected at 82 with the rod 84 of a plunger 86 in a cylinder 88 (Figs. 2 and 3) which is itself pivotally mounted at 90 on a bracket 92 on the adjacent side wall of the main frame [2. The opposite ends of each cylinder 88 are connected by suitable conduits or hose connections 94 and 96 with any conventional two-way valve (not shown) operable, preferably manually, to admit fluid under pressure to one end of the cylinder and vent the other end thereof, and vice versa, for swinging the corresponding spool-carrier A into its winding and idle positions.

The pivot-connection between each spoolcarrier A and the adjacent plunger-rod 84 may,

if desired, be of the floating type indicated at 88 in Fig. 4, in which case the stroke of the corresponding plunger 86 in its cylinder 88 is so selected that the plunger will, on swinging the spool-carrier into its winding position, arrive in its inner end position in the cylinder just before the pulley 88 on the carrier drivingly engages the belts 58 of the corresponding drive B, with the result that the spool-carrier will, under its own gravity and that of the spool thereon, complete its swinging movement into winding position. Accordingly, the pulley 88 on each spool-carrier A will rest against the adjacent belt-drive B only with the gravitational force of said spool-carrier and the parts carried thereby, with the result that the traction between the pulley 88 and the adjacent belt-drive B is, despite the increasing weight of the spool as the same is being wound with wire, never such as to occasion breakage of the wire being led to the spool.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the main-drive shaft 56 carries also a pulley I88, peferably of the multi-groove type, which through V-type belts I 82 is drivingly connected with a pulley I84 on the shaft I86 of an electric motor or other suitable prime mover I88 on a pedestal II8 on the base I4 of the frame I2.

Each spool-carrier A is also provided with automatic brake-mechanism I I2. brake-mechanisms may be identical, only one of them will be described with reference to Fig. 6. The brake-mechanism II2 there shown comprises a brake-shoe II 4 on the upper end of a shank II6 of which the lower end is pivotally connected at II8 with a link I28 which is, in turn, pivotally connected at I22 with another link I24 that is freely turnable on the carrier shaft 22. The shank II6 of the brake-shoe H4 is guided for axial movement in a bushing I26 in a cross-web I28 of the spool-carrier, and a compression-type spring I 38 surrounds the shank IIS and normally urges the shoe II4 into braking engagement with the pulley 88 on the spool-carrier. braking engagement with the pulley 88, the links I28 and I24 form a slightly bent knee as shown in Fig. 6. Threaded into the adjacent standard 66 is an adjustable stop I32 which, on the inward swing of the spool-carrier toward its winding position, will be engaged by an antifrictionroller I34 on the link I28, with the result that the links I28 and I24 will be further bent and the shoe I I4 retracted from braking engagement with the pulley 88 as the spool-carrier swings Wire-guiding mechanism C This mechanism, which is hereinafter referred to as wire-guide and designated by the reference numeral I38, comprises wire-guiding pins I48 and I42 which straddle the wire W as the same is led from a supply (not shown) over a guide roll I44 onto the spool 48 on one of the spool-carriers A. The pins I48 and I42 are carried by a plate I45 on an extension I46 of a bracket I48 which is slidable on spaced parallel [Since these When the shoe H4 is in normal rods I58 and I 52, the ends of which are suitably mounted in the end walls I6 and I8, respectively, of the main-frame I2. The wireguide I38 is, in a manner to be described, transferred on the rods I58 and I52 into operative Operating and control means D for wireguiding mechanism 0 For the widthwise spool traverse of the wireuide I38, the bracket I48 carries a bushing I54 (Fig. 1) which threadedly receives a feed spindle I56 that is splined at I58 to a shaft I68 so as to be slidable thereon as well as drivingly connected therewith. The shaft I68 extends between and parallel to the rods I58 and I 52 and is journalled with one end in the sidewall I6 of the main frame I2 as indicated at I62 in Fig. 3. The other end of the shaft I68 is drivingly coupled with a journalled shaft described hereinafter. The feed spindle I56 is part of a transfer-unit I64 which further includes opposite end brackets I66 and I 68 slidable on the rods I58 and I52, and spaced parallel tie rods I18 and I12 which connect these end brackets and extend parallel to the rods I58 and I52. The end bracket I66 has a recess I14 for the reception of an antifriction bearing I16 (Fig. 1) in which a diametrically reduced end I18 of the feed spindle I56 is journalled. A clamping ring I88 may be used to hold the annular shoulder I82 on the feed spindle I56 inpermanent engagement with the inner race I84 of the bearing I18, thereby connecting the spindle I56 with the bracket I66 for movement of the former with the transfer-unit I84 on the rods I58 and I52, yet permitting independent rotation of the spindle I56. Thus, since the wire-guide I38 will, by virtue of its threaded connection with the feed spindle I56, move with the transferunit I64, it is the latter which is shifted on the rods I58 and I52, in a manner hereinafter described, in order to bring the wire-guide I38 into operative alignment with the spool on either carrier A. The wire guide I38 is, for its repeated widthwise traverse of the spool on either carrier .A, repeatedly reciprocated, by the feed spindle I56 which is driven and periodically reversed in a manner to be described presently.

The shaft I68, which is drivingly connected at I58 with the spindle I56, is coupled at I98 to a stub shaft I92 which is suitably journalled in the frame wall I8 and carries on opposite sides thereof a pulley I94 anda gear I96, respectively. Journalled in the same frame wall I8 is another stub shaft I98 which carries on opposite sides thereof a pulley 288 and a gear 282, respectively. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the gears I96 and 282 are in permanent mesh with each other and enclosed in a cover 284 on the frame wall I8. Suitably journalled in the frame wall I8 is still another stub shaft 286 which carries at its opposite ends pulleys 288 and 2I8, respectively, of which the pulley 288 is drivingly connected by a belt 2I2 with a pulley 2I4 on a stubshaft 2I5 which is Journalled in a bearing block 2I6. As best shown in Fig. 2, the bearing block 2I6 is guided for vertical movement in ways 2I8 and 220 in the frame wall I8, and receives a threaded shank 222 which is mounted for rotational but non-axial movement in a top plate 226 on the frame wall I8 and carries a handwheel 224. The hand-wheel 224 may be turned to shift the bearing block 2I6 for the purpose of tensioning the belt 2I2 to the desired degree.

It appears from Fig. 2 that the stub shafts I92 and I98 are laterally offset from a line passing through the stub shafts 206 and 2I5 and are located on opposite sides, respectively, of this line, so that the pulleys I94 and 200, which are of identical dimensions, are equally spaced from, and out of driving engagement with, the adjacent runs 230 and 232, respectively, of the belt 2 I 2 when these runs normally extend rectilinearly between the pulleys 208 and 2I4 and are not inwardly flexed into driving engagement with the respective pulleys I94 and 200 by belt deflectors 234 and 236, respective I1, which are in the form of rollers on a reciprocable shifter bar 238.

For driving the pulley 208 and, hence, the belt 2I2, the pulley 2I0, which turns in unison with the pulley 208, is drivingly connected by a belt 240 with a pulley 242 on the main drive shaft 56 (Figs. 1 and 2). In order to hold the belt 240 under proper tension, the same is also passed over another pulley 244 which is journalled in an extension 246 on a bearing block 248 that is 2 guided for vertical movement in suitable ways 250 and 252 in the frame wall I8, and threadedly connected with a spindle 254 which is mounted for rotational but non-axial movement in the laterally projecting lug 258 on the frame wall I8 and carries a hand wheel 256. Thus, on turning the hand wheel 256, the belt 246 may be tensioned to any desired degree.

It follows from the preceding description that the belt-drives B for the spool-carriers A and the belt-drive 2I2 for the wire-guide I38 are operative when the motor I08 is running. The belt 2I2 moves in the direction of the arrow 259 (Fig. 2) and the feed-spindle may have a righthand thread, so that the wire guide I38 will be moved to the left as viewed in Fig. l, on flexing the run 232 of the belt 2 I2 inwardly into driving engagement with the pulley 200 as shown in Fig. 2. In thus inwardly flexing the belt run 232 into driving engagement with the pulley 200,

the gear 202 turning therewith will drive the companion gear I96 and thus rotate the stubshaft I92 and the shaft I60 which, by virtue of its splined connection I58 with the feed spindle I56, will drive the latter. Conversely, the feed spindle I 56 will be driven in the opposite direction and the wire-guide I38 shifted in the reverse direction on the feed spindle, on inwardly flexing the run 230 of the belt 2I2 into driving engagement with the pulley I84 on the stubshaft I92 which is directly connected with the shaft I60.

The inward flexing of the belt-runs 230 and 232 is, as previously mentioned, accomplished by the belt deflectors 234 and 236, respectively, on the shifter bar 238. The shifter bar 238 is, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, guided for reciprocation in spaced brackets 260 and 262 on frame wall I8 and is drivingly connected at 264 with the rod 266 of a double-acting piston (not shown) in a cylinder 268 on the frame wall I8. The stroke of the piston in the cylinder 268 is such that the belt deflectors 234 and 236 flex the adjacent belt-runs 230 and 232 inwardly into driving engagement with the pulleys I84 and 200,

8 respectively, when said piston is in its opposite end positions, respectively, in the cylinder 266.

For shifting the piston in the cylinder 260 into its opposite end positions for the purpose of causing reversals in the drive of the wireguide I38, there is provided for the cylinder 260 a suitable valve mechanism 210 which may be of the type illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. '7. The valve mechanism 210 comprises a casing 212 with a cylindrical chamber 214 in which a. valve 216 is turnable. The casing 212 is provided with ducts 218, 280, 282 and 284 of which the ducts 18, 280 and 282 are connected through suitable conduits 286, 280 and 290, respectively, with a source of fluid under pressure and the opposite ends of the cylinder 268, respectively, while the duct 284 serves as a vent. The rotary valve 216 is provided with passages 292 and 294 which, in the angular position of the valve 216 shown in Fig. 7, provide communication between the conduits 286 and 288 and between the conduit 280 and the duct 284, respectively, thereby admitting fluid under pressure to the right-hand end of the cylinder 268 as viewed in Fig. 2, and venting the opposite side of the cylinder. Accordingly, the shifter bar 238 is, in the aforementioned angular position of the valve 216 (Fig. '1), in its leftmost position shown in Fig. 2 in which the belt deflector 236 flexes the adjacent beltrun 232 inwardly into driving engagement with the pulley 200 for causing spool-traversing movement of the wire guide I38, as hereinbefore mentioned, to the left as viewed in Fig. 1. On tuming the valve 216 through into the dot-anddash line position shown in Fig. '1, fluid under pressure is admitted to the left-hand end of the cylinder 268 (Fig. 2) and the opposite end of the cylinder is vented, with the result that the piston therein and the shifter bar 238 connected therewith are shifted into their opposite end positions in which the belt deflector 234 flexes the adjacent belt run 230 inwardly into driving engagement with the pulley I94 to cause, as hereinbefore mentioned, spool-traversing movement of the wire-guide I38 to the right as viewed in Fig. 1.

To index the valve 216 through 90 for the periodic reversal of the spool-traversing movement of the wire-guide I38, the valve 216 is outside the casing 212 provided with a ratchet disc 300 having in this instance four equi-angularly spaced peripheral teeth 302 with which cooperates a pivoted indexing pawl 304 on a carrier 308 that is suitably mounted for independent rotation coaxially of the valve 216. The indexing pawl 304 is normally urged against the ratchetdisc 300 by a spring 301. The pawl carrier 306 is connected by a link 308 with the core 3I0 of a solenoid 3I2 having the usual winding 3I4. On energization of the solenoid winding 3I4 the core 3I0 will be retracted, with the result that the pawl 304 will index the ratchet disc 300 through 90 and turn the valve 216 to the same extent. To prevent backing-up of the ratchet disc 300, and hence of the valve 216, during the'idle return of the indexing pawl 304 into operative engagement with the next succeeding tooth 302 on the ratchet disc, there is provided a pivoted and spring-urged backing pawl 3I6 on a fixed support 320. The circuit of the solenoid winding 3 I4 includes any suitable source of electric power (not shown) and a normally open switch 322 (Figs. 1 and 3) which, on being closed in a manner to be described, will close the circuit of the solenoid winding 3 I4.

Carried by one of the tie-rods of the transferunit I64, in this instance the tie-rod I10, are blocks 324 and 326 which have adjacent camedges 328 and 330, respectively, adapted to actuate an arm 332 of the switch 322 and close the latter at the end of each spool-traversing movement of the wire-guide I38. To this end, the blocks 324 and 326 are longitudinally adjustable on the tie-rod I10, and are so spaced from each other that the switch 322 will be closed and the direction of travel of the wire-guide I38 reversed, every time the wire guided onto the spool on the adjacent carrier A reaches either end of the spool. In view of the foregoing, it is evident that the length of the spool-traverse movement of the wire guide I38 may be adjusted to accommodate spools of varying widths by simply adjusting the blocks 324 and 325 on the tie-rod I10.

Shifting device E for wire-guiding mechanism C Referring now to Figs. 1 and 3, there is shown a cylinder 340 receiving a double-acting piston 342 the rod 344 of which is connected at 346 with the transfer unit I64. The cylinder 340 is provided with saddle-like brackets 348 and 350 which are fixedly mounted on the rods I and I52. The opposite ends of the cylinder 340 are, through hose connections 352 and 354, connected with a valve (not shown) which is in communication with a source of fluid under pressure. The valve is preferably manually operable to admit fluid under pressure into one end of the cylinder 340 and vent the opposite end thereof, and vice versa, thereby to shift the transfer unit I64 into two end positions in which the wire-guide I38 is in operative alignment with the spools 40 on the carriers A, respectively. The left end position of the transfer unit I64, as viewed in Fig. 1, is determined by the left end of the cylinder 340 and is, hence, invariable. The maximum stroke of the piston 342 in the cylinder 340 exceeds the maximum distance through which the transfer unit I64 has to travel in order to be in operative alignment with spools of minimum widths on the carriers A, respectively. In order to stop the transfer unit I64 in various right end positions as viewed in Figs. 1 and 3, so that the wire guide I38 may be in correct operative alignment with spools of varying widths on the carrier A, the transfer unit I64 will move against longitudinally adjustable stop collars 356 and 358 on the rods I50 and I52, respectively.

In order to adapt the instant apparatus for winding wire on spools of different arbor diameters, recourse may be had to replaceable mandrels 36" in a hollow shaft 36 in either of the carriers A (Fig. 8). The hollow shaft 36 carries the pulley 80' which is adapted for driving engagement with the adjacent belt drive B' in the winding position of the carrier. The replaceable mandrels 38", of which one is shown in Fig. 8, have different diameters for the reception of spools of different arbor diameters, respectively, but have identical shanks 360 for removable fitted reception in the same hollow shaft 36 in the carrier. The end of the shank 360 of each mandrel 38" is threaded for the reception of a nut 362 by means of which to hold the shank 360 securely in the hollow shaft 36 in the carrier. More particularly, the shank 360 of each replaceable mandrel 38' is provided with a plate or disc 364 having lugs 366 for driving engagement with the adjacent end disc of a spool on the mandrel, and the plate or disc 364 is drawn into firm engagement with the adjacent end of the against the opposite end of the hollow shaft 36.

Mode of operation Assuming that the spool 40 on the carrier A is fully wound with wire and that the apparatus has been stopped after a prolonged run, the carrier A is shifted into its idle position by appropriate action of the piston in the coordinated cylinder 88, while the carrier A is shifted into its winding position as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, by appropriate action of the piston in the coordinated cylinder 88, in order that the empty spool on the latter carrier may not interfere with the removal of the full spool from the carrier A". Prior to the removal of the full spool from the carrier A, the wire leading to the latter spool is severed.

For resuming an operating run of the apparatus, the transfer unit I64 may, by appropriate manually controlled action of the piston 342 in the cylinder 340, be shifted into operative alignment with the empty spool on the carrier A, and the latter may be returned to its idle position for suitable anchorage of the supply wire W on the empty spool. The motor I08 of the apparatus may now be started in order to render the belt drives B and the belt drive 2I2 operative. On subsequently shifting the carrier A into its winding position, the empty spool 40 thereon will be driven from the adjacent belt drive B so that the wire W will be wound thereon. Since the wire guide I 38 will continuously reciprocateon the feed spindle I56 of the transfer unit I64 while the motor I08 is running, the wire guide may be in any momentary position intermediate the width of the spool on the carrier A when the latter is shifted into its winding position. with the result that the turns of the'first wire layer on the spool may be evenly deposited over a part only of the width of the spool. However, the turns of all subsequent layers of wire on the spool will be evenly distributed throughout the width of the latter, as will be readily understood.

While the carrier A is in its winding position, the travel of the wire-guide I38 on the feedspindle I56 will periodically be reversed by the hereinbefore described operating and control means D on successive closures of the switch 322 by the cam edges 328 and 330 of the blocks 324 and 326, respectively, on the transfer unit I64. so that the wire will, except perhaps in the first layer thereof on the spool, be evenly distributed in the remaining layers throughout the width of the spool.

The even distribution of the wire in the successive layers on the spool is assured by virtue of the driving connection of the adjacent belts 50 with the pulley on the carrier, rather than with the spool thereon, so that any possible variation in the drive due to the increasing diameter of the wound wire thereon will not in the least interfere with the even distribution of the wire in the successive layers on the spool.

While the spool on the carrier A is being wound with wire, the carrier A remains in its idle position. After completion of the wire-winding operation on the spool of the carrier A, the latter is shifted into its idle position, whereby its brake mechanism II2 will act immediately to stop the full spool to permit the severance of the wire leading thereto. Immediately thereafter, and while the apparatus remains in operating condition, the transfer-unit I64 is, by appropriate manually controlled action of the piston 342 in the cylinder 34!], shifted into operative alignment with the empty spool on the carrier A, whereupon the severed end of the supply wire is suitably anchored to the latter spool. The carrier A is next shifted into its winding position to be wound with wire. While the carrier A is in its winding position and the spool thereon is being wound with wire, the full spool on the other carrier A in its idle position may be removed and replaced with an empty spool to be wound with wire on the following spool winding cycle of the apparatus. The spools on the carriers A and A may thus alternately be wound with wire and replaced by empty spools. More particularly, the spool on one carrier may be wound with wire, while a full spool on the other carrier may be removed and replaced with an empty spool, and vice-versa.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are. therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. In wire-spooling apparatus, the combination of two spaced belt-drives having adjacent beltruns in substantially the same plane; two spaced carriers, each carrier having a rotary mandrel carrying a pulley and being adapted for removably carrying a spool, said carriers being movable to and from winding positions in which their mandrels are in substantial axial alignment and their pulleys are in driving engagement with said belt-runs, respectively; a rotary shaft extending substantially parallel to the mandrels on said carriers; a guide-unit comprising an externally-threaded sleeve splined to and axially slidable on said shaft and a wire-guide threadedly received by said sleeve and held against rotation therewith so as to be moved axially thereon on rotation of said sleeve and shaft; first means for shifting said sleeve on said shaft into two positions in which said wire-guide is in operative alignment with drums on said carriers, respectively; and other means for driving said shaft in opposite directions to cause reciprocation of said wire-guide for its widthwise traverse of the drum on either carrier.

2. The combination in wire-spooling apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which said other means comprise another belt-drive having other opposite runs, two other pulleys located adjacent but out of driving engagement with said other belt-runs, respectively, and carrying gears, respectively, in permanent mesh with each other. one of said other pulleys being drivingly connected with said shaft; a belt-run shifter having two idler pulleys and being movable in opposite directions to cause the latter to deflect said other belt runs into driving engagement with said other pulleys, respectively, a fluid-cylinder and a double-acting piston therein connected with said shifter, a valve-means for admitting fluid under pressure into either end of said cylinder and venting the opposite end thereof, and means actuating said valve-means at the end of each spool-traverse of said wire-guide.

3. In wire-spooling apparatus, the combination of two carriers having rotary mandrels, respectively, each for removably carrying a spool, said carriers being individually movable to and from winding positions in which their respective mandrels are driven and extend in substantial axial alignment with each other; a rotary shaft extending substantially parallel to the mandrels on said carriers; a guide-unit comprising an externally-threaded sleeve splined to and axially slidable on said shaft and being of a length in excess of the width of a drum on either carrier, and a wire-guide threadedly received by said sleeve and held against rotation therewith so as to be moved axially thereon on rotation of said sleeve and shaft; first means for shifting said sleeve on said shaft into two positions in which said wire-guide is in operative alignment with drums on said carriers, respectively; and other means for driving said shaft in opposite directions, while said sleeve is in either of said two positions, to cause reciprocation of said wireguide for its widthwise traverse of a drum on either carrier.

4. The combination in wire-spooling apparatus as set forth in claim 3, in which said other means comprise a reversible drive for said shaft, a device operative to reverse said drive, an electric switch carried by said wire-guide and adapted on each actuation thereof to render said device operative, and two switch-actuators carried by said sleeve in spaced relation longitudinally of the latter and adapted to actuate said switch at the ends of successive spool-traversing movements, respectively, of said wire-guide.

5. The combination in wire-spooling apparatus as set forth in claim 3, in which said other means comprise a reversible drive for said shaft, a device operative to reverse said drive, an electric switch carried by said wire-guide and adapted on each actuation thereof to render said device operative, and two switch-actuators carried by said sleeve in adjustable spaced relation longitudinally of the latter and adapted to actuate said switch at the ends of successive spool traversing movements, respectively, of variable lengths.

6. The combination in wire-spooling apparatus as set forth in claim 3, in which said other means' comprise a belt-drive having opposite runs, two first pulleys located adjacent but out of driving engagement with said belt-runs, respectively, and carrying gears, respectively, in permanent mesh with each other, one of said pulleys being drivingly connected with said shaft, a belt-run shifter having two idler pulleys and being movable in opposite directions into opposite end positions in which said idler pulleys deflect said belt-runs into driving engagement with said first pulleys, respectively, a device operative to move said shifter alternately into said end positions, an electric switch carried by said wire guide and adapted on each actuation thereof to render said device operative, and two switch-actuators carried by said sleeve in spaced relation longitudinally of the latter and adapted to actuate said switch at the ends of successive spool-traversing movements, respectively, of said wire-guide.

'7. In wire-spooling apparatus, the combination of a drive comprising spaced V-type pulleys, of which one is driven, and a double V-type belt passing over said pulleys; a carrier having at one side of said belt a rotary mandrel carrying another pulley having a V-groove and being adapted for removably carrying a spool, said carrier being movable to and from a winding position in which the V-groove of said other pulley is in driving engagement with the adjacent run of said belt; a wedge-shaped brake-sho havmg a shank guided on said carrier for movement of said brake-shoe into and from braking engagement with the V-groove in said other pulley; a spring for normally urging said brake-shoe into braking engagement with said other pulley; a toggle-joint connected at its ends with said carrier and brake-shoe shank, respectively; and a fixed stop engaged by and actuating said togglejoint to retract said brake-shoe from braking engagement with said other pulley on movement of said carrier into said winding position.

8. In wire-spoolin apparatus, th combination of an uprising frame pivoted at its bottom about a substantially horizontal axis; a belt drive having an ascending belt run; a mandrel journalled in the top of said frame and extending substantially parallel to the pivot axis of said frame; a pulley on said mandrel, the latter being adapted for removably carrying a spool at one side of said pulley, and said fram being swingable to and from a winding position in which said pulley is in driving engagement with said belt run and said frame leans toward the latter at such an inclination that the gravity of said frame and the parts carried thereby solely retain said pulley in driving engagement with said belt run; and power means operative to swing said frame from Winding position and toward winding position and release said frame for gravity return into winding position on its swing toward winding position by said power means.

9. In wire-spooling apparatus, the combination of an uprising frame pivoted at its bottom about a substantially horizontal axis; a belt-drive having an ascending belt-run; a mandrel journalled in the top of said frame and extending substantially parallel to the pivot axis of said frame; a pulley on said mandrel, the latter being adapted for removably carrying a spool at one side of said pulley, and said frame being turnable to and from a winding position in which said pulley is in driving engagement with said belt-run and said frame leans toward the latter at such an inclination that the gravity of said frame and the parts carried thereby solely retain said pulley in driving engagement with said belt-run; a cylinder; a double-acting piston therein having a floating pivot connection with said frame; and means operable to control the ingress of fluid under pressure into, and its egress from, the ends of said cylinder for turning said frame to and from its winding position, the stroke of said piston being such that the latter will turn said frame toward its winding position, but will reach its corresponding end position before said frame reaches said winding position whereupon said frame is permitted to gravitate into its winding position by said floating pivot connection between piston and frame.

BENJAMIN H. DAVIS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 497,476 Morley May 16, 1893 966,827 Gustave Aug. 9, 1910 1,387,005 Hochman Aug. 9, 1921 1,443,875 Glazier et a1. Jan. 30, 1923 1,899,730 Schweizer Feb. 28, 1933 1,970,995 Diehl Aug. 21, 1934 2,254,221 Hubbard Sept. 2, 1941 2,293,734 Haas Aug. 25, 1942 2,363,988 Peterson Nov. 28, 1944 2,424,021 Cook July 15, 1947 2,477,422 Roseman July 26, 1949 

